Bluetooth audio is my least favorite part of using Linux and it seems like my coworkers agree. I hear a lot of praise for pipewire, but it doesn’t match what I experience. Does any system work well for anyone?

To clarify, it can work. But it’s a harsh experience compared to say Android. I’ve used Ubuntu, Fedora, and PopOS. I’ve tried a few different headphones, using Galaxy Buds 2 current. Pulseaudio tends to “do as it’s told” but doesn’t automatically switch to the right (confusingly named) profile. With Ubuntu 23.10, using pipewire, it does automatic switch profiles. Sometimes this works great. But very often, it gets stuck on on a profile or just stops working. I have to reconnect bluetooth to fix it.

Is there some magic combination of things that works or is this just how it is for everyone?

  • onlinepersona@programming.devEnglish
    2·
    10 months ago

    Fuck Bluetooth. I’ve seen it multiple times this week that wireless headphones have failed on Linux, Mac, and Windows. “Shit, let me reconnect my headphones”. Also the switching from “high quality audio” to bullshit mono audio when calling.

    Fuck bluetooth.

  • 9488fcea02a9@sh.itjust.works
    1·
    10 months ago

    Pipewire and debian stable here

    BT audio works like 99% of the time. Then there’s that 1% it just stops working for no apparent reason and you spend an hour googling why without finding any answers. And in the end, unpairing, forgetting the device and the re-adding it fixes the problem in 2 mins

    Overall very happy once i remember the quick fix

  • outbound@lemmy.ca
    1·
    10 months ago

    Bluetooth works great. Debian w/ XFCE (pulseaudio). But, there is some config on a fresh install:

    # apt install blueman pulseaudio-module-bluetooth  

# nano /etc/pulse/default.pa  
add:  
load-module module-switch-on-connect  

# nano /etc/bluetooth/input.conf  
change:  
IdleTimeout=0
  • dark_stang@beehaw.orgEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Bluetooth sucks on all platforms. It may be worse on Linux, but given how often my coworkers on Mac and Windows have audio issues it meetings, not by much.

    Get a good set of RF wireless headphones and only use Bluetooth when you’re traveling.

  • FQQD@feddit.deEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Pretty good. I use Nothing ear 2s with a lenovo thinkpad on arch linux and it works just as well as with my ipad and my android smartphone.

    Only bad thing, it set the codec to a worse sounding one once for some reason, but changing it back solved it.